Moon Township, Pa. – A 21-12 fourth quarter edge lifted the Robert Morris University women's basketball team past Central Connecticut State University this evening, 55-46, in Northeast Conference (NEC) play from the Charles L. Sewall Center.
Despite shooting just 32.2 percent for the game, Robert Morris (10-9, 5-3 NEC) came through when it mattered the most as it converted 55.6 percent (5-of-9) of its field goals in the fourth quarter. Anna Niki Stamolamprou entered the frame with just two points to her name, but finished with 11 on the scoresheet thanks to a pair of clutch three-pointers during the closing stretch.
Up 44-41 with less than three minutes remaining, Central Connecticut (7-12, 6-2 NEC) committed its 26th turnover of the contest when Mikalah Mulrain picked the pocket of Aleah Epps. The Colonials then worked the ball around for half the shot clock, before Mulrain found an open Stamolamprou for three on the wing.
Epps made up for her mistake with the next four points, cutting the deficit to 47-45 with 49 seconds left. RMU again used some good ball movement on its next possession to run down the clock, and was rewarded when a Megan Smith screen at the elbow freed Stamolamprou up for another trifecta.
The Colonials padded their lead when the visitors picked up both a flagrant and technical foul after a Smith rebound. The junior forward made three of the four foul shots, and added another pair with nine seconds left to seal the victory.
"We stayed focused, grabbed some big rebounds, and finished the big shot when things were a bit stagnant," said head coach Charlie Buscaglia. "I was proud of them when things got tough and the ball wasn't going in, and someone like Megan Smith was able to keep it together by making a big basket and getting some tough boards and stops. It was a great effort for her down the stretch and something we really needed."
In a game that featured eight lead changes and nine other deadlocks, RMU came away with the win despite shooting nearly 10 percent under its season average. The Colonial defense tied their season-high with 16 steals – a mark they established in the previous game against Bryant – and held the Blue Devils to a 2-of-9 performance from deep in the second half.
Smith led RMU with 14 points and eight rebounds, while Rebeca Navarro added 10 off the bench. Stamolamprou and Janee Brown tallied four and three steals, respectively.
"When a team plays a zone, we can get [Rebeca] loose and do some different things," said Buscaglia. "I was actually more happy with her defensive effort and how she stayed in front of the ball. That's what our backbone is and our first priority every game is to set the tone defensively."
Epps (18 points, 10 rebounds) and Andi Lydon (10 points, 10 rebounds) each posted a double-double for Central Connecticut, but the former turned the ball over nine times on the evening.
The hosts scored 27 points off turnovers, picked up 22 points from their bench, and had an assist on 14 of their 19 field goals.
The victory marked the Colonials' 14th straight win against the Blue Devils at home.
Robert Morris looks to continue its climb up the NEC standings when it begins a four-game road trip on Saturday, Jan. 28 at 1:00 p.m. against Mount St. Mary's.
